IdiomFood & Drink
Japanese
Japaneseお茶を濁す (ocha o nigosu)
Meaning: To dodge a question with a vague, evasive answer.
Literally: To muddy the tea
Example: “質問されると、彼は冗談でお茶を濁した。” — When asked, he muddied the waters with a joke.
English equivalent: To muddy the waters
Equivalents in other languages
French: Noyer le poisson Literally: To drown the fish
Russian: Заговаривать зубы (Zagovarivat' zuby) Literally: To talk someone's teeth away
Greek: Άλλα λόγια ν' αγαπιόμαστε Literally: Other words so we may love each other
English: muddy the waters- English: give someone the runaround
Origin: From the tea ceremony: someone who does not know the proper way to whisk tea simply stirs the water until it is cloudy, so that it passes for tea. Muddying the tea is getting through an awkward moment with a vague, makeshift answer. This is the usual explanation, though no early source documents it.
More Japanese idioms
- 朝飯前 (Asameshi mae) A task so easy it can be done before eating.
- 二階から目薬 (Nikai kara megusuri) A roundabout effort that has no real effect.
- 喉から手が出る (Nodo kara te ga deru) To want something so badly you can hardly bear it.
- 棚から牡丹餅 (Tana kara botamochi) An unexpected stroke of good luck.
- 月とすっぽん (Tsuki to suppon) Two things alike at a glance but worlds apart.
- 釘を刺す (kugi o sasu) To remind someone firmly so they can't back out.
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